The New England Patriots have locked up quarterback Tom Brady through the 2017 season, which means they also have locked up another five consecutive AFC East titles.

That means absolutely nothing to the Patriots.

Tom Brady is under contract through age 40, assuring continued success in New England. So what? By breaking from their Super Bowl formula, the Patriots are depriving their aging star of what really matters — another ring. (AP Photo)

The extension the future Hall of Famer got Monday is a reminder just how far behind the rest of the division remains at the game's most important position. The Dolphins won't contend for anything soon in the near future with Ryan Tannehill, and it didn't take long for the Bills and Jets to have buyer's remorse after signing Ryan Fitzpatrick and Mark Sanchez to lucrative deals.

The Patriots, however, are all about winning Super Bowls with Brady and coach Bill Belichick. Securing playoff berths and high postseason seeds is of little interest. They come too easily. In the past seven seasons—when Brady's healthy—the Patriots have made the playoffs but haven't been able to earn a fourth Super Bowl title.

With those disappointments and Brady looking more like a mortal playoff quarterback, Patriots fans are getting restless. They are caught wondering if the best of their beloved Brady is behind them, even though the numbers and performances say otherwise.

We've been wowed by Brady leading the Patriots' offensive juggernaut, but we also have been fooled on just how good they have been by beating up on lesser division rivals. Since 2009, they have gone 20-3 in division games. Over those same four seasons, they are 29-12 in other games and 3-3 in the playoffs.

When Brady was helping the Patriots win nine consecutive playoff games and three Super Bowls, he had a lot of help. The Patriots were much better defensively then for Belichick, and they had a more established power rushing attack to complement their quarterback.

The Patriots have relied too much on Brady to mask other issues in recent years. In turn, he's helped New England outshine its overmatched divisional foes, who regularly have helped the Patriots look elite in the process.

Brady loves football enough to play for the Patriots through age 40, and as long as he's playing for them, they'll be in the hunt for the Super Bowl. Now that he's accommodated their salary-cap needs, the Patriots need to give him more help to get another championship.

Their newfound cap relief will assist them in re-signing offensive players such as wide receiver Wes Welker and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer. It's good the Patriots also want to invest around Brady to keep him happy, but if they want to keep their championship window open, they need to break out of the convenience of resting on his laurels.

To really reward Brady, the Patriots must get back to the foundation of using an effective defense and running game to ease his burden. It's the same foundation the team gave a young Brady, allowing him to raise three Lombardi Trophies.

Brady's done more than his fair share to keep the Patriots at a high level, but there's a reason that another team built to help its younger quarterback—the Baltimore Ravens—stands as the current class of the NFL.

Brady's new deal should be a reminder to the Patriots that they have only a few more precious years to get it right again.